social marketABILITY

I was once afraid to put videos on YouTube.

Yes, I admit it.  I was incredibly afraid.

I was worried that I could not compete with celebrity YouTubers, YouTubers with expensive equipment, or YouTubers with great radio personality voices – and the list goes on.

It took some time to realize that I had to overcome that fear and just get outside my comfort zone because the advantages to providing content on YouTube far outweighed the momentary discomfort.

Did you know?

Google paid $1.65 billion to acquire YouTube in October 2006.

YouTube ranks among the Top Five websites on the internet.

YouTube has over 80 million visitors per month.

One-third of all online videos are watched on YouTube.

Pretty amazing, huh?

Baby Steps for YouTube Newbies

If you’re curious about how to start or want to know how to progress – Here are some tips if you don’t want to be in front of the camera:

1.       Start with photo collection videos with text and music.

It’s easy to get over the initial fear by gathering 3-5 photos for a free 30 second video for a site like animoto.com.  On this video rendering site, you can pick your music and add text for a professional quality video.  You can upload to YouTube and have your very own online commercial.

2.       Use Screen Capture software and Powerpoint to record your video. 

This a very effective and popular method of creating videos, without the pressure of being in front of the camera.  You will need a microphone to record your voice.  The sound of your own voice increases the connection with your viewers.

Start small and work your way up, until you feel comfortable getting in front of the camera. 

You may be wondering. . . .

What types of videos should I put on YouTube?

There are three primary types of video available on YouTube.

• Entertaining – The content can range from comedy shows, talented musicians, vocalists, and even magicians.
• Educational -   People are coming online everyday to learn how to do something.  Viewers are searching YouTube for tips on how to cook, apply make-up, improve their relationships, and so much more.
• Informational – These videos seek to inform viewers of the latest industry news, present high-value content and includes how-to videos.  This type of video involves less visual demonstration.

But, wait!  There’s a another type of video. . .

Another style of YouTube videos is a hybrid of two of the primary categories

EduTainment – Making Learning Fun!

Edutainment videos present product or service benefits using comedy and music.  These types of videos tend to go viral.  They are particularly effective for a business that can clearly brand the video.  You want to views to be able to remember your business name so, if it comes up in conversation viewers can easily share by word of mouth.  Some of my most memorable learning experiences as a child were edutainment shows like School House Rock and Sesame Street. 

Take time to inventory your strengths and the unique selling points of your selling points to determine which type of video is best for your brand.  Making YouTube videos is a great way to market your website online!

Recommended Reading: YouTube for Business: Online Video Marketing for Any Business

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edutainment, marketing strategy, social media marketing, youtube for business